US4733511A - Gravity closing fire-rated ceiling access door - Google Patents
Gravity closing fire-rated ceiling access door Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US4733511A US4733511A US06/843,498 US84349886A US4733511A US 4733511 A US4733511 A US 4733511A US 84349886 A US84349886 A US 84349886A US 4733511 A US4733511 A US 4733511A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tracks
- door panel
- ceiling
- rearward
- door
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
- A62C—FIRE-FIGHTING
- A62C2/00—Fire prevention or containment
- A62C2/06—Physical fire-barriers
- A62C2/18—Sliding dampers
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
- E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
- E06B5/00—Doors, windows, or like closures for special purposes; Border constructions therefor
- E06B5/01—Trap-doors
Definitions
- This invention relates broadly to a building construction, and more specifically to an automatically closing access door assembly for fire resistive floor/ceiling assembly of a building.
- the utilities include, for example, plumbing, air ducts, communication, computer and electrical wiring.
- a ceiling or membrane is normally mounted below the utilities in order to separate the utilities from the space of the floor below.
- a door it would be advantageous for such a door to also have fire or heat protection capability.
- the ceiling is made of a fire retardant material such as gypsum
- Such a door would be required to pass a fire test similar to the test required for a fire resistive floor/ceiling assembly.
- Fire protection capability is, of course, desirable in order to keep the fire from spreading to other locations and to protect the utilities from damage in the event of a fire in the floor space below.
- Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 799,140, filed Nov. 18, 1985 discloses an access door which meets the fire ratings.
- the access door disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 799,140 is designed to swing downwardly on a hinge to the open position, and in some instances a downwardly hanging door may interfere with the activities of the service technicians.
- the door also includes a return spring arrangement for closing the door.
- An access door assembly in accordance with this invention comprises a mounting frame which forms a door opening and is adapted to be attached to supports of a ceiling in a generally horizontal position.
- a door is mounted on the frame and is movable between an open position and a closed position.
- the frame includes tracks and the door has rollers which move in the tracks, and the tracks are sloped to cause the door automatically to move by force of gravity toward the closed position.
- the door avoids the need for a closing spring assembly and a lock for holding the door closed.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an access door assembly in accordance with the invention, showing the door in the open position;
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the assembly showing the door in the open position
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the door in the closed position
- FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;
- FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a track and roller of the assembly.
- FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are views similar to FIG. 5 but show alternative constructions.
- the invention relates to a door mounting frame 10 and a door 11, the frame and door assembly being adapted to be mounted in a ceiling as shown in FIG. 1.
- the ceiling is formed by ceiling panels 12 secured to the undersides of channels 13, and the channels 13 in turn are supported by wire hangers 14 attached to the underside of a ceiling/floor (not shown) above the assembly.
- the channels 13 and the wires 14 are, in this example, made of metal and the ceiling panels 12 are preferably made of a fire-resistant material such as gypsum drywall.
- the foregoing arrangement of the ceiling panels, etc. may be conventional.
- the utilities (not shown) are mounted in the space between the ceiling/floor and the panels 12.
- the mounting frame 10 is formed by a plurality of metal members which are secured together, as by spot welding, to form a rectangular frame.
- the members include two elongated track sides 21 and 22 which are channel-shaped and parallel. Across one end of the track sides is secured a support side 23 which extends transversely across the ends of the sides 21 and 22. Substantially midway along the length of the sides 21 and 22 is a mid-support brace 24, and across the other end of the sides 21 and 22 is a end support brace 26.
- the two braces 24 and 26 extend transversely of the track sides 21 and 22 and are secured to the undersides of the track sides.
- the portions of the track sides 21 and 22 to the left of the mid support brace 24 are offset upwardly relative to the right-hand portions, and the amount of the offset is slightly greater than the vertical thickness of the ceiling panels 12.
- the support side 23, the mid-support brace 24, and the right-hand portions of the two track sides 21 and 22 form a substantially square door opening, the lower edges of these form members being substantially flush with the lower sides of the ceiling panels. These four members thus form an outline or periphery of the door opening 27.
- the left-hand portions of the track sides 21 and 22 extend above and are hidden by the adjacent ceiling panels.
- the track sides 21 and 22 extend parallel to and are secured to a pair of the channels 13 (see FIG. 1) in order to support the door assembly in the ceiling.
- wire hangers 14 may be attached between the track sides 21 and 22 and the ceiling/floor.
- the door panel 11 is mounted on the two track sides 21 and 22, and it is movable between a closed position (FIG. 3) and an open position (FIGS. 1 and 2). In the closed position the door panel completely closes or covers the door opening 27, whereas in the open position a technician may reach through the opening 27.
- the door panel 11 includes a frame 31 formed by an angle member that is bent to the shape of a square or rectangle.
- the lower side 32 (FIG. 4) of the angle extends horizontally at the bottom surface of the panel, and the side 32 supports the outer periphery of a fire-retardant board 33 that may be made of the same material and have the same texture as the ceiling panels 12.
- the board 33 may be a ceramic fiber board as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 799,140, and the disclosure of U.S. application Ser. No. 799,140 is incorporated herein by reference.
- Extending across the upper side of the board 33 are channel-shaped stiffeners 34 and a metal top plate 36, the parts being secured together as by screws.
- a metal handle or grip 37 (FIG. 1) is attached to the underside of the board 33 to assist a technician in opening the door.
- the door panel 11 is mounted by rollers on the track sides 21 and 22 such that the panel is gravity actuated to the closed position regardless of the position of the panel.
- forward and rearward tracks 41 and 42 are secured to the interior surface of each track side 21 and 22.
- each of the tracks has a channel or U-shaped cross section, the web of the channel being secured as by spot welding to the associated track side.
- Two forward rollers 43 and two rearward rollers 44 are rotatably mounted on each side of the door panel 11, each roller 43 being on a bolt or bearing shaft 46 (see FIG. 5) which is fastened to the vertical sides of the angle 31.
- the forward rollers 43 are positioned between the flanges of the forward tracks 41 whereas the rearward rollers 44 are similarly mounted in the rearward tracks 42.
- the rollers 43 and 44 ride on the lower flanges 47 of the tracks and the upper flanges 48 prevent the rollers (and the door panel 11) from moving upwardly.
- the forward tracks 41 and rollers 43 support the forward (to the right as seen in FIGS. 1 to 3) portion of the panel 11, and, of course, the rearward tracks 42 and rollers 44 support the rearward portion of the panel.
- the two forward tracks 41 extend to the lower right-hand corners of the track sides 21 and 22, and they slope upwardly and rearwardly from this corner.
- the rearward tracks 42 have their forwardmost ends adjacent the lower edges of the track sides 21 and 22 and they slope upwardly and rearwardly.
- Each of the tracks 42 has a forward portion 51 which slopes upwardly at a relatively steep angle and a rearward portion that slopes upwardly at a lower angle.
- the rollers 43 and 44 are located on the door panel at positions where the door is in the fully closed position (see FIG.
- the slopes of the channels will cause the door panel to move automatically to the closed position.
- the panel rests on and is supported by the lower flanges 53 of the track sides 21-22, the end support side 23 and the mid-support brace 24 and thereby tightly closes the door opening 27; the panel is not supported by the rollers and the tracks when in the closed position.
- the upper flanges 48 of the tracks retain the rollers in the tracks and prevent the door panel from being moved upwardly in the event of an explosive force in the space below the ceiling.
- the tracks have a relatively low slope so that the upper flanges 48 are able to prevent such upward movement.
- each track 61 includes a vertical arm 62 secured to the adjacent track side 65 and a horizontal arm 63 on which rests a roller 64.
- the construction is otherwise the same as is shown and described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 5.
- the FIG. 6 construction is less expensive but the tracks do not prevent upward movement of the door panel 66.
- tracks are formed in each track side 71 by forming elongated slots 72 in the sides.
- Slotted wheels 73 are rotatably mounted on the sides of the door panel 74 and roll along the slots 72.
- the sides 71 may be deformed as indicated at 75, so that the wheels 73 are recessed from the outer surfaces of the sides.
- FIG. 8 The structure shown in FIG. 8 is generally the same as that in FIG. 7.
- Bushings 81 are mounted on the sides of a door panel 82 and move in slots 83 of the track sides 84.
- the bushings 81 may slide or roll in the slots.
- the tracks 62 and the slots 72 and 83 preferably have the same general configuration as the tracks 41 and 42 of FIGS. 1 to 5.
- the constructions of the parts not shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 may be the same as the corresponding parts shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.
Abstract
Description
Claims (16)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/843,498 US4733511A (en) | 1986-03-25 | 1986-03-25 | Gravity closing fire-rated ceiling access door |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/843,498 US4733511A (en) | 1986-03-25 | 1986-03-25 | Gravity closing fire-rated ceiling access door |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US4733511A true US4733511A (en) | 1988-03-29 |
Family
ID=25290179
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US06/843,498 Expired - Fee Related US4733511A (en) | 1986-03-25 | 1986-03-25 | Gravity closing fire-rated ceiling access door |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US4733511A (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5782688A (en) * | 1996-03-21 | 1998-07-21 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd | Apparatus for closing an air outlet door of an air conditioner |
US5816022A (en) * | 1992-09-04 | 1998-10-06 | Southpac Trust International, Inc. | Flower pot cover with crimped skirt |
US5868617A (en) * | 1996-03-21 | 1999-02-09 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Discharge outlet opening and closing apparatus of air conditioner |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US28346A (en) * | 1860-05-22 | Flush bolt | ||
US1820127A (en) * | 1928-03-05 | 1931-08-25 | Elkington Vivian | Manhole cover and frame and the like |
GB685868A (en) * | 1950-06-23 | 1953-01-14 | Donald Ashmore Pearson | Improvements relating to sliding doors |
US3359695A (en) * | 1964-10-14 | 1967-12-26 | Joseph F Gazerro | Access tile with hinge leaves |
US3910628A (en) * | 1974-05-23 | 1975-10-07 | Gen Motors Corp | Retractable roof closure |
SU717261A1 (en) * | 1978-02-08 | 1980-02-25 | Специальное Конструкторское Бюро Эскалаторостроения | Protective device for stage manhole |
-
1986
- 1986-03-25 US US06/843,498 patent/US4733511A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US28346A (en) * | 1860-05-22 | Flush bolt | ||
US1820127A (en) * | 1928-03-05 | 1931-08-25 | Elkington Vivian | Manhole cover and frame and the like |
GB685868A (en) * | 1950-06-23 | 1953-01-14 | Donald Ashmore Pearson | Improvements relating to sliding doors |
US3359695A (en) * | 1964-10-14 | 1967-12-26 | Joseph F Gazerro | Access tile with hinge leaves |
US3910628A (en) * | 1974-05-23 | 1975-10-07 | Gen Motors Corp | Retractable roof closure |
SU717261A1 (en) * | 1978-02-08 | 1980-02-25 | Специальное Конструкторское Бюро Эскалаторостроения | Protective device for stage manhole |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5816022A (en) * | 1992-09-04 | 1998-10-06 | Southpac Trust International, Inc. | Flower pot cover with crimped skirt |
US5782688A (en) * | 1996-03-21 | 1998-07-21 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd | Apparatus for closing an air outlet door of an air conditioner |
US5868617A (en) * | 1996-03-21 | 1999-02-09 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Discharge outlet opening and closing apparatus of air conditioner |
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Owner name: INRYCO, INC., 4101 W. BURNHAM STREET, MILWAUKEE, W Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:MUTH, JAMES C.;REEL/FRAME:004548/0898 Effective date: 19860320 Owner name: INRYCO, INC., WISCONSIN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MUTH, JAMES C.;REEL/FRAME:004548/0898 Effective date: 19860320 |
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Owner name: FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON, THE Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MILCOR INCORPORATED, A DE. CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004593/0987 Effective date: 19860818 Owner name: FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BOSTON, THE,MASSACHUSETTS Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MILCOR INCORPORATED, A DE. CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004593/0987 Effective date: 19860818 |
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Owner name: MILCOR INCORPORATED, 1101 EAST KIBBY, LIMA, OHIO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:IR CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC. A CORP. OF DE.;REEL/FRAME:004599/0459 Effective date: 19860818 Owner name: MILCOR INCORPORATED,OHIO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:IR CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC. A CORP. OF DE.;REEL/FRAME:004599/0459 Effective date: 19860818 |
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